Container safety closure

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a safety closure for container bottles, etc., wherein the closure is provided with an inner cap adapted to be threadably receivable on the apertured neck of the container for closing the aperture, and an outer cap that is adapted to normally rotate freely about the inner cap when the top portions of the respective caps are separated a predetermined distance, and to engage each other when the top portions are moved toward each other whereby the inner cap is engaged by a plurality of splines causing the inner cap to rotate with the outer cap.

United States Patent [1 1 Gillman et al.

[ June 3,1975

[ CONTAINER SAFETY CLOSURE [73] Assignee: Poly-Seal Corporation, Baltimore,

22 Filed: Nov. 1, 1973 21 Appl. No: 411,101

5/1974 Maki ..2l5/9 5/1974 Willis 215/9 Primary ExaminerGeorge T. Hall Attorney, Agent, or Firm-J. Wesley Everett [57] ABSTRACT This invention relates to a safety closure for container bottles, etc., wherein the closure is provided with an inner cap adapted to be threadably receivable on the apertured neck of the container for closing the aperture, and an outer cap that is adapted to normally rotate freely about the inner cap when the top portions of the respective caps are separated a predetermined distance, and to engage each other when the top portions are moved toward each other whereby the inner cap is engaged by a plurality of splines causing the inner cap to rotate with the outer cap.

FIG. 1

FIG. 5

" FIG. 3

FIG. 6

CONTAINER SAFETY CLOSURE The present invention relates to a class of closures generally referred to as safety closures or caps. and are used in particular when the containers and/or bottles are carrying contents that could be injurious to children.

One object of the invention is to provide a closure which requires more than the normal rotation of the cap to remove the closure from the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a closure with a minimum number of parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction that is easily molded from a plastic material in large quantities and assembled in a minimum length of time.

While several objects have been pointed out, other objects, uses and advantages will become apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed in the following specification with reference to the accompa nying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the neck area of a bottle showing the improved closure attached thereto.

FIG. 2 is an elevational cross-sectional view of the outer cap member.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the outer cap member.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational sectional view of the inner cap member showing the seal for the bottle opening and the screw threads for securing the inner cap to the container.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the inner cap member.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged assembled view of the two cap members in which the inner cap is shown in elevation and the outer cap is shown in section.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective of the assembled cap elements showing the cooperating engaging elements of the two cap members.

In referring to the drawings, like and similar reference numerals are used to point out like and similar parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 shows the upper portion of a bottle on which the improved closure 10 is threadably secured.

The closure is provided with an outer cap element 12 having a continuous top portion 12' and an inner cap member 14 having a continuous top portion 14'.

The inner cap member 14 is also provided with a cylindrical side wall 14" having a plurality of serrations 19 about its outer cylindrical surface, forming a plurality of recesses between the serrations.

The diameter of the outer cap 12 is slightly greater than the diameter of the inner cap 14 to the extent that the outer cap will normally rotate freely about the inner cap but in close proximity with the outer surface of the inner cap. The outer cap is further provided with a bead 20 about its lower edge which is expandable to slip over the inner cap 14 when the two cap members are being assembled. The bead 20 will normally be in sliding engagement with the bottom edge 21 of the inner cap preventing its accidental removal from the inner cap. The side wall 12" of the outer cap is of substantially greater height than the side wall 14" of the inner cap to allow the outer cap to slide axially relative to the inner cap including means carried by the outer cap for resiliently extending the outer cap to a point where the bead 20 comes in contact with the bottom edge 21 of the inner cap.

The outer cap 12is further provided with a plurality of tapered splines 18 extending inwardly about the surface of the side wall adjacent the top 12' and are of such size and shape as to engage the recesses 15 lying between the serrations 19. These tapered splines I8 are positioned to begin at a point above the serrations on the inner cap when the outer cap is in its extended position and are tapered gradually outwardly from the inside surface of the outer cap toward the center of the cap as they extend toward the top of the outer cap. These tapered splines are advantageous in that in the molding of the inner cap there appears a number of irregularities as to size, diameter, etc.. as do the serrations about the side wall of the inner cap and. therefore, the tapered splines have a better chance to engage the recesses in operating the inner cap than if the splines were of the same size throughout their full length, which will hereinafter be referred to.

The means for positioning the outer cap in its outer position is provided by two spring members 16 and 17 wherein one end of each spring is secured to the top I2 of the outer cap member 12 and the inner end rests against the upper surface 14' of the inner cap 14.

The two cap members 12 and 14 are each molded separately, preferably from a plastic material. The cap members are assembled by forcing the bead 20 of the outer cap over the inner cap member until the bead 20 slips over the bottom edge 21 of the inner cap. wherein the spring members 16 and 17 will contact the upper surface of the inner cap as shown in full lines in FIG. 6 wherein the outer cap will freely rotate about the inner cap member. When the outer cap 12 is moved downwardly over the inner cap 14 the springs 16 and 17 will be moved to the position as shown in dotted lines 16' and 17'.

After the cap members are assembled the closure is placed over the neck of the container and by applying a downward force on the outer cap the springs 16 and 17 will move upwardly as shown at 16' and 17 and the outer cap will move in the direction indicated by the arrows 26 in FIG. 6 allowing the tapered splines 18 to move into the recesses 15 (see FIG. 7) after which the inner cap may be rotated by rotating the outer cap in either direction. When the downward pressure on the outer cap is released, the springs 16 and 17 will cause the outer cap to be moved upwardly to disengage the spines from the recesses 15 wherein the inner cap can not normally be rotated by merely rotating the outer cap.

The advantage in the present closure is that any imperfections in the molding of either or both of the caps are not as important as in the past which makes for less waste in the manufacture of this type closure. The tapered splines will take care of most irregularities in the molding of the serrations and the slight differences in the diameters of the two caps.

In applying the closure to the container, the closure is placed on the outer end of the container neck and a downward pressure is applied which moves the splines into the recesses between the serrations on the inner cap whereby the inner cap is rotatable with the outer cap. The closure is removed in the same manner except that the closure is operated in the opposite direction.

While the invention has been shown in a specific form it is not intended in any way to be a limitation, as the invention is best defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

3 ,887 ,099 3 4 l. A safety closure for a threaded cylindrical neck the inner top surface having their free ends angled portion surrounding an opening in a container compristoward the center of the cap, wherein the free ends ing: of the said resilient members are adapted to engage a. said closure having an inner and outer plastic cap the outer surface of the closed end of the inner cap member, each cap member being provided with a 5 at an angle when the two caps are in assembled reclosed top portion, a cylindrical side wall portion lationship; and an open bottom, the cylindrical side wall being a plurality of tapered splines integrally formed on in a plane at right angles to the closed top portion; the inner surface of the outer cap member of subb. the outer surface of the cylindrical side wall of the stantially one third the length of the side wall of the inner cap being serrated to a point above its open outer cap member beginning at a point above the end, leaving a narrow unserrated band about the upper surface of the top portion of the inner cap said open end; when the caps are in normal extended position and the outer cap member being of slightly larger diamtapered upwardly and outwardly in the direction of eter and of greater height than the inner cap the center of the outer cap terminating at the inner wherein the outer cap is adapted to encase the surface of the top portion of the outer cap for eninner cap in a free rotatable and axially slideable gaging the recesses located between the said serramovement relative to the inner cap; tions on the outer surface of the side wall of the d. a bead extending about the lower inner surface of inner cap for rotating the inner cap in either directhe outer cap for retaining the outer cap in position tion when engaging the said recesses when the over the inner cap; outer cap is depressed to a point where the splines e. a pair of resilient members having one end of each of the outer cap engage the said recess of the inner member secured to the inner surface in diametrical cap. relationship adjacent the outer peripheral edge of 

1. A safety closure for a threaded cylindrical neck portion surrounding an opening in a container comprising: a. said closure having an inner and outer plasTic cap member, each cap member being provided with a closed top portion, a cylindrical side wall portion and an open bottom, the cylindrical side wall being in a plane at right angles to the closed top portion; b. the outer surface of the cylindrical side wall of the inner cap being serrated to a point above its open end, leaving a narrow unserrated band about the said open end; c. the outer cap member being of slightly larger diameter and of greater height than the inner cap wherein the outer cap is adapted to encase the inner cap in a free rotatable and axially slideable movement relative to the inner cap; d. a bead extending about the lower inner surface of the outer cap for retaining the outer cap in position over the inner cap; e. a pair of resilient members having one end of each member secured to the inner surface in diametrical relationship adjacent the outer peripheral edge of the inner top surface having their free ends angled toward the center of the cap, wherein the free ends of the said resilient members are adapted to engage the outer surface of the closed end of the inner cap at an angle when the two caps are in assembled relationship; f. a plurality of tapered splines integrally formed on the inner surface of the outer cap member of substantially one third the length of the side wall of the outer cap member beginning at a point above the upper surface of the top portion of the inner cap when the caps are in normal extended position and tapered upwardly and outwardly in the direction of the center of the outer cap terminating at the inner surface of the top portion of the outer cap for engaging the recesses located between the said serrations on the outer surface of the side wall of the inner cap for rotating the inner cap in either direction when engaging the said recesses when the outer cap is depressed to a point where the splines of the outer cap engage the said recess of the inner cap. 